In the eyes of many, Thomas Jefferson embodies the contradictions of the young American republic. The principal writer of the Declaration of Independence was a man deeply committed to the democratic and equalitarian ideals of the Enlightenment and who professed to hate slavery. Yet, he was at the same time one of the largest slaveholders […]
Author Archives: Jean-François Mouhot
J.F. Mouhot was until recently a post-doctoral research fellow based in the history department of Georgetown University (Washington D.C.). He has a long-standing interest in environmental and energy issues, particularly climate change. He has recently published several articles and a book showing the connections that exist between the use of fossil fuels today and of slaves in the past. He has recently started a new job for an environmental organization, A Rocha (www.arocha.org), working to set up an international center for environmental education and training in the south of France (www.courmettes.com).